‘Dark Christmas’

A ghost story by Harry Riley

This is fiction and resemblance to anyone living or dead is coincidental

“Are you doing anything special over Christmas, Bonnie?”

“Such as…?”

“Er…seeing Max or any…anybody else?”

“Well Maxwell and I…” she let the rest hang in the air, savouring the sound of his name.

Rory was sixteen, awkward and out of his depth after the disco. Bonnie was the love of his life, though clearly she had no idea of his deep affection. It had been love at first sight and he was captured, heart and soul. Bonnie had a flirtatious manner, which had him in raptures. He had strong competition from Max, three years older, bold and confident and always boasting of success with the girls.

“At least let me walk you home, it’s dark and dangerous walking through that churchyard and it’s nearly midnight.”

“Why? Do you care?”

“Well…it could be haunted!”

“I could go the long way round as I do with Maxwell.”

Rory caught the challenge in her voice and knew it was too late to back down. If Max was scared of ghosts then this could be his chance to show what he was made of.

“I’m not scared of ghosts, you will be okay with me!”

He gave her a protective peck on the cheek to show she now had a real man to walk her home.

As Rory and Bonnie laughed and joked and giggled through the rusty gates of the ancient burial ground the yew trees cast deep shadows in the moonlight and the tilted headstones seemed to have a figure lurking behind each one. What they did not know was that Max had observed Rory’s tentative advances on his latest conquest and having assumed their destination was now lurking in the churchyard waiting for his moment to pounce and scare the living daylights out of them. Rory would be a laughing stock after this night and would retire back into his shell.

“Bonnie would you…”

“Hark, shush, did you hear that? Sounded like a foot scraping on a stone.”

“Probably just a restless phantom out on the prowl!”

Rory tried to be bold but got ready for a quick exit. They heard it again, louder and closer. Then they heard an unearthly cry coming from just in front, stopping them frozen in their tracks. By now they were almost at the church and suddenly the darkness was brilliantly illuminated as security floodlights momentarily lit up the night sky.